Shloka 8
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य द्रोणाभिमुख्यं तथा सात्यकि-कर्ण-समागमः
Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s advance toward Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Karṇa confrontation
न प्रमत्ताय भीताय विरथाय प्रयाचते । व्यसने वर्तमानाय प्रहरन्ति मनस्विन:,मनस्वी पुरुष असावधान, डरे हुए, रथहीन, प्राणों-की भिक्षा माँगनेवाले तथा संकटमें पड़े हुए मनुष्यपर प्रहार नहीं करते हैं
na pramattāya bhītāya virathāya prayācate | vyasane vartamānāya praharanti manasvinaḥ ||
Bhūriśravā dit : «Les hommes de vrai courage ne frappent pas celui qui est inattentif, ou saisi de peur, ou privé de char, ou qui implore la vie—pas plus que celui qui est déjà pris dans le malheur. Un tel coup n’est pas vaillance, mais rupture de l’éthique du guerrier.»
भूरिश्रवा उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse states a principle of dharma-yuddha: a noble warrior should not attack an opponent who is defenseless or morally protected by circumstance—such as being off-guard, frightened, without a chariot, pleading for life, or already overwhelmed by disaster. Honor in battle is measured by restraint as much as by strength.
Bhūriśravā articulates battlefield ethics at a tense moment in the Drona Parva, invoking accepted norms of fair combat. His statement functions as a moral claim about when striking an enemy becomes adharma—especially when the opponent is disadvantaged (like being viratha) or seeking mercy.